Brassieres



United States Patent 2,607,038 8/1952 Spare Inventors Murray FreedmanGreat Neck; Arthur E. Vale; Peter R. Vale, New York, New York App]. No.814,751 Filed April 9, 1969 Patented Dec. 8, 1970 Assignee La TriqueBrasslere Company, Inc.

New York, New York a corporation of New York BRASSIERES 11 Claims, 14Drawing Figs.

US. Cl. 128/483, 128/495 Int. Cl. A41c 3/00 Field of Search 128/425-References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,459,190 8/1969 Frischeretal.

ABSTRACT: A brassiere capable of providing the wearer with a high degreeof freedom of movement while at the same time remaining in its properposition. The brassiere has at its cups upper cup portions extendingfrom the bottom ends of the straps to a central region of the brassierewhere these upper cup portions intersect. At least one of the upper cupportions forms an extension of an underbust band portion with the uppercup part of one cup connected with the underbustband portion of theother cup. The underbust band portions are in turn connected with backportions which terminate at arear releasable fastener for the brassiere.The upper cup portions are not connected to each other where they crossover each other at the central region of the brassiere, and these upperparts of the upper cup portions as well as the underbust band portionsand the back portions are all :made of a stretch fabric V which has atleast a one-way stretch.

BRASSIERES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION known brassieres cannot bereliably maintained properly positioned on the body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly a primary object of thepresent invention to provide a brassiere which will give the wearer avery high degree of freedom of movement while at the same time reliablyremaining in its proper position on the body.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a brassiere whichwillaccommodate size variances within the same bust size. For example, abrassiere having a size 343 will, with the construction of theinvention, adjust 34 or 34+.

In addition it is. an object of the invention to provide a brassiereconstruction which has a self-adjusting separation between the bust,permitting the brassiere to fit the differen needs of different wearers.

Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide alightweight,'comfortable brassiere which will give complete freedom ofbody movement without distortion or restriction.

At the same time, it is an object of the invention to provide abrassiere which will keep the bust in perfect alignment'at all timeswhile remaining in the proper position, without falling out of place.

Also, it is an object of the invention to provide a brassiere which willgive an increased stability of separation for women who require morethan average support.

Also it is an object of the invention to provide a brassiere which iscapable of achieving a very definite separation at the central region ofthe brassiere.

The brassiere of the invention has a rear releasable fastening means andapair of shoulder straps which respectively terconnected to the lowerpart'of the upper component. The

upper parts of the upper components respectively extend from the lowerfront ends of the shoulderstraps toward a central region of thebrassiere, between the cups thereof, where these upper parts of theupper cup components cross each other. The brassiere furthermoreincludes a pair of underbust band portions respectively extending alongand joined to lower edges of the lower cup components. Also, thebrassiere has back portions which respectively extend from the underbustband portions up to the releasable rear fastening means. The upper partsof the upper cup components, the underbust band portions, and the backportions are all made of a stretch fabric which has at least a one waystretch. At least one of the upper parts of the upper component of onecup forms an uninterrupted extension of the underbust band portion ofthe other cup with this one upper part of the upper component of the onecup having an elongated intermediate portion which is completelydisconnected from while extending across a side edge region of the otherupper part of the upper component of the other cup, so that in this waythe crossing upper parts of upper cup components together with theirinterconnection with the underbust band portions provide for a stablepositioning of the brassiere while at the same time achieving thedesired degree of freedom of movement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated by way ofexample in the accompanying drawings which form part of this applicationand in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of one embodiment of a brassiere of theinvention, FIG. l showing the brassiere in an extended condition;

FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic elevation showing parts of the brassiereof FIG. 1 separate from each other;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation, at an enlarged scale ascompared to FIG. 1, showing the central region of the brassiere whereupper cup portions cross each other;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken along line 4-4 of FIG.3 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken along line 5-5 of FIG.3 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken along line 6-6 of FIG.3 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken along line 7-7 of FIG.3 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary front elevation showing another structure of theinvention according to which the upper cup portions cross each other,but in a manner differently from the embodiment shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken along line 9-9 of FIG.8 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken along line 10-10 ofFIG. 8 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 11 is an exploded front elevation showing yet another embodiment ofa brassiere according to the invention;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary front elevation, on an enlarged scale ascompared to FIG. 11, illustrating also the central region of thebrassiere of FIG. 11 with the parts thereof assembled;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken along line 13-13 ofFIG. 12 in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken along line 14-14 ofFIG. 12 in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, the brassiere20 of the invention which is illustrated therein includes a pair ofshoulder straps 22a and 22b which respectively terminate in front bottomends 24a and 24b. Also, the brassiere 20 has a rear fastening means 26which includes the series of eyes 28 at one end of the brassiere andunillustrated hooks at the opposite end 30 of the brassiere. Thus, thehooks at the end 30 will engage selected eyes 28 to form a releasablerear fastening means 26 for the brassiere 20.

Also, the brassiere includes cups 320 and 32b between which thebrassiere has a central region .34. The cups 32a and 32b respectivelyinclude lower components 36a and 361). These cups also include uppercomponents 380 and 38b. These upper components 38a and 38b arerespectively provided with lower parts 40a and 40b which arerespectively connected to the lower components 36a and 36b and withupper parts 42a and 42b which are respectively connected with the lowerparts 400 and 40b. The upper parts 42a and 42b of the upper components38a and 38b are respectively formed of an elastic stretch fabric whichhas at least a one way stretch although a two-way stretch is preferredand these elastic upper parts 420 and 42b respectively form integralparts of the bust cups, creating shaping and adding to the natural curveof the bust. These elongated upper cup portions 42a and 42b are distinctfrom elastic edging which is in fact connected to the uppermost edges ofthe cup portions 42a and 42b extending along these uppermost edges. Suchelastic edging is indicated by the zigzag dotted lines 44a and 44b inFIG. 3, and this elastic edging may extend all the way up to the bottomends 24a and 24b of the shoulder straps 22a and 22b, respectively, Thebottom ends of these shoulder straps are directly connected with the topends of the uppermost cup portions 42a and 42b at the top crests orpeaks of the cups 32a and 32b.

46b and 460,

The brassiere 20 also includes underbust band portions 46a and 46b.These underbust band portions are connected with and extend along thelower edges of the lower cup components 36a and 36b, respectively. As isapparent particularly from FIG. 2, the underbust band portion 460 andthe upper cup portion 42b form uninterrupted extensions of each other,and in the same way the upper cup portion 424 and the underbust bandportion 46b form in uninterrupted extensions of each other.

The brassiere 20 also includes a pair of back portions 48a and 48b whichrespectively extend from the underbust band portion 46a and 46b all theway up to the rear fastening means 26. These back portions 48a and 48bas well as the underbust band portion 460 and 46b are made, in the sameway as the upper cup parts 42a and 42b, of an elastic stretch fabricwhich has at least a one way stretch, but preferably has a two-waystretch. Moreover, although the brassiere 20 is shown as having a singleuninterrupted length of stretch fabric extending on the one hand all theway from the bottom end 24b of the strap 22b to the rear fastening meansand another single length of uninterrupted stretch fabric extending, onthe other hand, from the bottom end 240 of the shoulder strap 22a allthe way up to the fastening means 26 in an opposite direction from thefirst uninterrupted length of stretch fabric, it is not at all essentialthat each of these lengths of fabric be made of a single piece ofstretch fabric. For example, the back portions 480 and 48b could be madeof pieces separate from the underbust band portions and joined thereto,respectively, by any suitable stitching, for example. However, even withsuch stitching because of the elasticity of the stretch fabric extendingall the way from the bottoms of the shoulder straps to the rearfastening means it is still possible to achieve the outstanding resultsof the invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 35, it will be seen that at the central region 34of the brassiere 20 the upper cup part 420 extends across the upper cuppart 42b. Stitching 50 along the left side edge region of the upper cuppart 42a terminates at the left side edge region 52 of the upper cuppart 42b so that the intermediate portion 54 of the upper cup part 42bis completely unconnected to the upper cup part 42a. The upper or rightside edge region'56 of the upper cup part 42a extends across but is inno way connected to the upper or left side region 52 of the upper cuppart 42b. However, these side edge regions 50 and 56 are provided withstitching 58 starting at the lower or right side edge region 60 of theupper cup portion 42b and extending therefrom so that in this way theupper cup part 42a also has an elongated intermediate region 62 which isin no way .connected to the upper cup part 42b.

Elongated elastic edging 64 extends along the lower edges of theunderbust band portions 460 and 46b as well as along the lower edges ofthe back portions 48a and 48b, and this elastic edging extends acrossthe central region 34 to define with the edges 50 and 60 where theunderbust band portions extend uninterruptedly from the upper cupportions a triangular aperture which is filled by a triangular fillermember 66 also made of stretch fabric and joined to the edges 50 and 60as well as to the elastic edging 64.

Thus, as may be seen from FIG- 6 the stitching along the side edge 60 isinterrupted at the intermediate portions 62 and 54 of the upper cupparts. In addition, FIG. 7 shows how the stitching along the edge 52terminates at the edge 50 of the upper cup part 42a and does not extendany further upwardly beyond the edge 50. Thus, these portions 62 and 54are completely separate from each other to provide complete .freedom ofmovement of the pair of upper cup portions 42a and 42b at the placeswhere they extend uninterruptedly from the underbust band portions 46band 46a, respectively, so that in this way it is possible to provide areliable support and at the same time a high degree of freedom ofmovement. Thus, this construction provides in effect an open slotbetween the upper cup portions 42a and 42b and the underbust bandportions respectively extending uninterruptedly therefrom, to achieve afree and unbroken flow of the tension from the bottom ends 24a and 24bof the shoulder straps all the way to the opposed ends of the backportions 48b and 48a, respectively. This structure of the invention willaccommodate itself to size variances within the same bust size. Forexample, a 34B brassiere will adjust to 34- or 34+.

The crossing elastic sections of the brassiere of the invention whichare not connected to each other create a self-adjusting separationbetween the bust permitting the brassiere to fit the different needs ofdifferent wearers. This self-adjusting center front region, combinedwith the uninhibited stretch of the different elastic sections provide acomplete freedom of body movement without distortion or restrictions.The bust is thus kept in perfect alignment at all times and remains inthe proper position without falling out of place.

The embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in FIGS. 8l0 isidentical with that of FIGS. 1-7 except for the differences shown inFIGS. 810. With this embodiment the upper side edge region 56 of theirpper cup part 42a extends across the upper side edge region 52 of theupper cup part 42b without being connected to the latter,-and theintermediate portions 62 and 54 also are completely separate from eachother. However, in this embodiment the stitching'68 along the left ordownwardly directed edge 50 of the upper cup part 420 extends withoutinterruption across the intermediate region 54. In the same way thestitching 70 along the edge 60 of the upper cup part 42b extends withoutinterruption across the intermediate part 62 of the upper cup part 42a.Thus, with this embodiment the upper edges 52 and 56 are unconnected toeach other where they cross each other and where they extend along theintermediate portions 54 and 62, respectively. However, the upper cupparts 420 and 42b are directly connected to each other along their loweredges 50 and 60, respectively, even where these edges extend across theintermediate regions 54 and 6 2 of the upper cup parts 42b and 42a,respectively. This embodiment of the invention will achieve the sameresults as that of FIGS. 17, with perhaps a somewhat less extent offreedom of movement. However, this embodiment will provide by the addedstitching a more stabilized separation for women who require moresupport.

With a preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated inFIGS. 1l14, the upper cup portion 42a is identical with that of FIGS. 1and 2 and extends uninterruptedly from the underbust band portion 46bwhich is connected in the same way to the cup 32b. However, in thisembodiment, the underbust band portion 47a, which corresponds to theunderbust band portion 46a, terminates in an end 72 while the cup 3212is provided with a separate upper cup portion 43b forming the upper partof the upper component of the cup 32b. This upper cup part 43b has a topend 74 connected directly to the bottom end 24b of the shoulder strap22b, and this upper cup part 43b terminates in a bottom end 76. Theupper end 72 of the underbust band portion 47a is stitched to the loweror left side edge region 50 of the upper cup part 420 with theuninterrupted line of stitching 78, shown most clearly in FIG. 13. Theend 76 of the upper cup part 43b is directly connected to the opposededge 56 of the upper cup part 42a by an uninterrupted line of stitching80. Thus, with this embodiment the intermediate elongated portion 62 ofthe upper cup part 42a forms the only component situated precisely atthe center region 34 with the upper cup part 43b of the cup 32b beingseparated from the underbust band portion 47a of the other cup 32a bythe width of the elongated intermediate portion 62. Because of thecomplete freedom of the portion 62 to stretch, preferably with a two-waystretch, all of the freedom of movement of the other embodiments aremainconstruction.

It will be seen that with the embodiment of FIGS. 11-14 there is at thecentral region of the brassiere only a single thickness of stretchfabric so that thisparticular embodiment is exceedingly light andcomfortable is free of any over lapping layers which might rub oneagainst the other during portion 470 while maintaining the singlethickness of fabric so that a lightweight, comfortable brassiere isprovided.

It is to be noted that in all of the embodiments the illustrated cups32a and 32b are composed notof only three parts but instead of fourparts, Thus, the cups respectively have the lower components 36a and 36bwhich are madeof a nonstretch fabric such as a suitable lace, forexample. Also the cups respectively have the lower parts 40a and 40b ofthe upper components 380 and 38b, and these parts 40a and 40b are alsopreferably made of the same nonstretch fabric as the com ponents 36a and36b to which they are connected. The cups have the above-described upperparts 42a and 42b of the upper components. In addition, however, theyhave upper parts 82a and 82b which may be madeof the same'stretch fabricas the parts 424 and 42b. Moreover, elastic edging may be provided atall of the free upper and lower peripheral edges such as along the upperedges of the parts 82a and 82b and the upper edges of the back portions480 and 48b.

Moreover, the underbust band portions and back portions need not be onecontinuous length of fabric. For example, it is possible to providebeneath the cups, at the lowest parts thereof, short vertical lines ofstitches each interconnecting an underbust band portion with a backportion,-while still retaining all the advantages of the invention andwithout changing the manner in which the partsfunction. Furthermore,such short vertical stitch lines, extending downwardly from the lowestparts of the cups, improve the fit of the brassiere.

it is therefore apparent that with the construction of the invention ahigh degree of freedom of movement in all directions without anydistortion or restriction is achieved, while at the same timemaintaining a completely reliable stabilityin the positioning of thebrassiere with self-adjusting thereof at the central region 34.Moreover, .a fully adequate support is provided with a very definiteseparation. With the embodiment of FIGS. 11-14, in particular,outstanding results are achieved because of the comfort and lightweightof the brassiere, together with the stretchability along crossingdiagonal lines. The stretch along one of these lines is achieved throughlongitudinally stretching of the intermediate portion 62 of FIG. 12. Thestretch along the other of these lines is achieved by transversestretching of this intermediate portion 62. Thus, with this simple,comfortable, lightweight construction the stretchability in the requireddirections is achieved, with all of the other advantages of theinvention.

We claim:

1. In a brassiere, rear releasable fastening means, a pair of shoulderstraps respectively having front bottom ends, a pair of cups situated onopposite sides of a central brassiere region, each cup having a lowercomponent and an upper component, said upper component of each cupincluding a lower part connected to said lower component and an upperpart connected to said lower part, saidupper parts of said upper cupcomponents respectively extending from said central region up to andbeing connected with said bottom ends of said straps, a pair ofunderbust band portions extending along and connected to edges of saidlower cup components which are distant from said upper cup components,and a pair of back portions respectively extending from saidunderbustband portions up to said releasable fastening means, said upper parts ofupper cup components, said underbust band portions, and said backportions all being made of an elastic fabric of at least one waystretch, the upper part of the upper component of at lest one cupforming an uninterrupted extension of the underbust band portionconnected to the other cup and having between opposed side edge regionsat said central brassiere region an elongated intermediate portionextending across but unconnectedwith at least one side edge region andan adjoining intermediate portion of the upper part of the uppercomponent of the other cup.

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said upper part of said uppercup component of said other cup forms an uninterrupted extension of saidunderbust band portion of said one cup.

3. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said upper part" of said uppercomponent of said other cup terminates at and is connected to an upperside edge region of said upper part of said upper component of said onecup while said underbust band portion of said one cup terminates at andis connected to a lower side edge region of said upper part of saidupper component of said one cup, said upper part of said upper componentof said other cup and said u.nderbust,band portion of said one cup beingseparated from each other by the intermediate portion of said upper partof said upper component of said one cup which extends between said sideedge regions which are respectively connected to said upper part of saidupper component of said other cup and said underbust band portion ofsaid one cup.

4. The combination of claim 2 and wherein both of said upper parts ofsaid upper cup components have at said central region elongatedintermediate portions crossing each other but completely unconnected toeach other.

5. The combination of claim 4 and wherein the upper part of the uppercomponent of said one cup extends over the upper part of the uppercomponent of said other cup at said central region with a lower sideedge region of said upper part of said upper component of said one cupconnected to said upper part of said upper component of said other cuponly at opposed side edge regions of the latter while the upper sideedge region of said upper part of said. upper component of said one cupextends across the upper side edge-region of the upper part of the uppercomponent of said other cup without being connected thereto while beingconnected to the upper part of the upper component of said upper cuponly at a lower side edge region thereof.

6. The combination of claim 2 and wherein both of said upper parts ofsaid upper cup components are connected to each other at said centralregion along lower side edge regions of said upper parts of said uppercup components.

7. The combination of claim 1 and wherein both of said upper parts ofsaid upper cup components respectively have upper free side edgeregions, and a pair of elongated elastic edgings respectively extendingalong and fixed to said upper side edge regions of both of said upperparts of said upper cup components.

8. The combination of claim 1 and wherein each cup has a second upperpart of its upper component extending from the bottom end of a strapaway from the central region of the brassiere.

9. The combination of claim 1 and wherein the fabric of said upper partsof said upper cup components, and said underbust band portions and saidback portions: areall a two-way stretch fabric.

10. The combination of claim 1 and wherein elongated elastic edgingextends along and is connected to lower edge regions of said back andunderbust band portions, said elastic edging extending across thecentral region of the brassiere and forming a substantially triangularaperture with lower side edge regions of said underbust band portionswhich extend upwardly from said elastic edging at said central brassiereregion, and a triangular elastic filler member filling said aperture andjoined to said lower edging and underbust band portions at the edgeportions of the latter which define said aperture.

11. The combination of claim 3 and wherein said intermediate portion ofsaid upper part of said upper component of said one cup is made of atwo-way stretch fabric capable of stretching longitudinallyandtransversely so that, with a single thickness of stretch fabric atthe said central brassiere region,

mediate portion of said upper part of said upper component of said onecup.

